I am a mother, wife, and breast cancer survivor.  This is my story of how being diagnosed in my thirties with breast cancer forever changed my life.

In February of 1999, I was diagnosed with stage II invasive ductal carcinoma. Although I had lost my cousin two months prior to breast cancer, it was not considered a "family history" risk. She was only 42. Her death however is what made me aware that I was not too young and prompted me to start doing breast self-exams. After the first time, I felt the lump. It was small, hard and felt like an M&M, but did not hurt. My gynecologist performed a fine needle aspiration and ordered a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. I was referred to a general surgeon, but chose to go to a breast surgeon in Indianapolis. The day I had my mammogram the surgeon’s office called with a cancellation. I took the films to the surgeon who saw things that looked suspicious, and the next day a core biopsy was done.  It all happened so fast, but I felt fortunate to have found all this out within three weeks of finding the lump.

My treatment included a lumpectomy, followed by four cycles of Adriamycin / Cytoxan, then four cycles of Taxol. I chose to participate in the Sentinel Node Biopsy, which at the time was in its trial stages. The surgeon had to perform an axillary node dissection when one of the sentinel nodes showed positive. They foundthree positive nodes in all. I then finished my treatment with 25 rounds of radiation and I took Tamoxifen for five years. One year later I had scar tissue that was causing pain to my arm. It did not start until I was finished with my radiation. I am here to tell you, do not let any doctor tell you that you will have to just live with it. Find a physical therapist that specializes in breast cancer and Lymphedema. The pain and swelling in my arm is so much better. I thought I was finished with treatment, but then my periods came back and I really didn’t need all that extra estrogen, so at the recommendation of my oncologist I had a hysterectomy. I am also now on an aromatase inhibitor. I feel fortunate to have already had my children before this all started and didn’t have to face the fertility issues that so many young women face.

I was ready for my “new life” now, because my old one had forever changed. I wanted my life to go on as normal as possible and to not be afraid of the future, but 6 months after my treatment was finished I lost my 17 yr old son in an accident. My breast cancer became so “nothing”, although I knew it was my breast cancer experience that made me strong enough to get through my son’s death.  My “new life” now is not all that much different than before breast cancer. I don’t worry as much and I find joy in many more things than I used to. Sometimes I look at my daughter and I want to cry, wondering if this will happen to her, but I plan on fighting for a long time to make women aware and to do what I can to help find a cure. I am now a seven-year survivor and have continued to work as a breast cancer advocate. My experiences have brought so many wonderful women into my life.  In looking back over the last 7 years there have been some remarkable advances in treatments but they are still not sure what causes breast cancer. So until……..